THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW ~ Chapter 19

We have been under attack with allergies the past 3 weeks so I have not been blogging regularly. But today, the pressure behind my eyes and across my cheekbones has abated, so I will start blogging again by catching up on the Thursday Bible Studies that have fallen by the sneezing wayside. Today’s Scripture Study is on the topic of divorce. I understand that it is a touchy topic, nonetheless … Yeshua DID teach on it.

Also let me say that I am a second wife; I married my divorced husband when I was 17 – he was 24 … and I have never regretted it, nor do I apologize for it. I was Christian and I made sure my husband-to-be understood Yehua’s teaching on divorce as that was the only way I would become involved with him. Being assured (and having met his ex, who was at the time openly living with another man) that our union was in no way questionable and absolutely kosher according to the teaching of Yeshua, I agreed to marry him in August of 1974: 44 years, 2 children (his and ours) and 4 grandchildren ago (his and ours).

Wedding picture - 1974 @ the Judge's home. I did not want the big fancy wedding my mother was planning, and the Judge being a friend of our family married us on the spur of the moment late evening August 27th.

I do not apologize to anyone for that decision. Hubs is a patient, kind, generous, and gentle husband to me; a strong Godly man; a longsuffering, patient, and kind father; and a gentle, kind, and wonderful grandfather.

Too many church leaders and lay people do not read Scripture correctly or under the welcome guidance of the Rauch Ha’Kodesh, so they allow human nature to get the best of them and snarkily comment with pious self-righteousness on something they know nothing about. We have, throughout our marriage, had some well-meaning people take us to task on the issue – and some just plain mean-spirited people make remarks to us that have NO BASIS on Scripture at all!

It amazes us – and shows us their true hearts – that these same self-righteous and Biblically ignorant people can so thoroughly castigate the divorced and ban them from leadership positions … YET … openly embrace and promote openly homosexual practicing people to ministerial positions – and gather man costly possessions to themselves along with fat stock portfolios. In doing so they have become self-righteously political, not Christian, in their worldly leaning churches. Thereby wreaking thousands of lives in the greedy progressions.

And we are better off without them in our lives.

All that said, let us take get a cup of coffee, sit down together, and take a Berean-style approach to the Scripture today and come to a correct understanding of it.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW ~ Chapter 19

When Yeshua had finished His talk, He left Galilee and came to that part if Judea beyond the Jordan. Many people followed after Him, and He healed them there.

Some Pharisees came to Him to test Him and asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?” In answering them, Yeshua asked, “Have you never read that He Who created them in the beginning created them male and female? And also that He said, ‘On that account shall a man leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the 2 shall be 1 flesh?’ They are therefore, no longer 2, but 1 flesh. What Elohei has joined together, then let no man separate.” Then they asked him, “But why did the Law of Moshe permit a man to get a divorce certificate and put his wife away?” “Moshe,” said Yeshua, “has allowed you to put your wives away because of the wickedness of your hearts. But it was not intended that way in the beginning. And I say to you that if you put away your wife for any reason except adultery, and marry another woman, you then commit adultery; and anyone who marries the divorced wife commits adultery.” His disciples then remarked, “If this is the rule as to man and wife, it seems best not to get married.” Yeshua answered, “Not all can accept such counsel, but only those who are so capable. Some men have always been unsuited for marriage, having been born that way. Some men have been made eunuchs by the act of men, and some have chosen not to marry for the love of the kingdom of heaven. Let him who can, accept this call.”

Pharisees questioning Yeshua

Then they brought little children to Him, that He might lay His hands on them and offer prayer, but the disciples spoke sharply to them. Then Yeshua spoke up, “Let the children alone. Don’t forbid them to come to Me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Then He laid His hands on them, and went on.

Jesus blessing the children

A man now came to Him and asked, “Rabbi, what good thing must I do to win everlasting life?” “You call Me good?” said Yeshua. “There is none good except one – Elohei. And, as to winning everlasting life – if that is your desire – you must keep the commandments.” The man said, “Which commandments?” “These” said Yeshua – “you shall not murder; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness. Honor your father and mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The man – he was still young – said to Him, “Why, a; these commandments I have kept from my youth. Just what do I still lack?” Yeshua answered him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your property and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. This done, come and follow Me.” When the young man heard these words, he went away sorrowing, for he had many possessions. At this, Yeshua told his disciples, “Yes, I tell you it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. I say it again, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” His disciples, in great astonishment, said, “Who, then, can be saved?” Looking at them, Yeshua answered, “With man it is impossible, but not with Elohei. All things are possible for Him.”

Then Simon (Peter), answering Him, asked, “See! We have left everything and followed You. What will there be for us?” Yeshua answered, “This I promise you – you who have followed Me – that in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of His glory, then you, too, will sit there on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel. Indeed, everyone who has forsaken his home, or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or wife or children, or land – for My sake – will be rewarded a 100 times and will obtain everlasting life. But many who are now first will then be last; and many who are last will then be first.”

**Matthew 18: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-gospel-according-to-matthew-chapter_22.html